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Charlie Louvin was never one to shy away from spiritual concerns. The Louvin Brothers’ best-known album, Satan Is Real, was released in 1959, and half a century later, Charlie released Ships to Heaven. Now those spiritual matters take on a new resonance, as Louvin died on Wednesday, January 26, of pancreatic cancer.

Louvin, born Charles Elzer Loudermilk, and his brother Ira, became popular country & western and gospel artists in the 1950s. Ira, an alcoholic, was himself killed by a drunk driver in 1965. After Ira’s death, Charlie struggled through the next decade as a solo artist. From 1982 until 2007, he did not release any new recordings. But as a couple generations of Americana artists discovered the Louvin Brothers and were influenced by their close harmonies, Charlie became something of a living legend. In 2001, the Louvin Brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Charlie’s self-titled 2007 comeback album featured contributions from George Jones, Jeff Tweedy, and Will Oldham.

Today, we here at PopMatters are excited to bring you the first in what will be a lone line of video interviews, starting today with Tim Kasher, the Cursive frontman who we caught on the penultimate performance of his solo tour for The Game of Monogamy.

Backstage at Chicago’s historic Vic Theatre, Kasher was candid and open with us, discussing why he chose not to write two more Ugly Organ‘s, how he deals with the frustration of those who feel somewhat betrayed by his songs not being autobiographical, and—after coming clean with soem of his regrets—how getting to open for The Cure was one of the highlights of his life ...

When discussing Between the Buried and Me frontman Tommy Rogers, the topics most frequently discussed are his frenetic yet soulful keyboard skills, and the delightful contrast between his unearthly growls and gorgeous clean singing. However, not many people seem to realize just what an integral part of Between the Buried and Me’s songwriting and composition he is. Rogers is out to blow perceptions away, though, with his new solo album Pulse, issued under his given first and middle name of Thomas Giles. Arranging, composing, producing, and performing the entire album on his own, this dynamic and intelligent musician delivers a powerhouse album of progressive and experimental rock, enlivened by elements of techno and electronic included in the mix. The first single from the album, “Sleep Shake”, displays just how much effort went into Pulse, with shots of Rogers performing every single instrument and singing. With echoes of Trent Reznor permeating every second of his music, Thomas Giles Rogers is making his presence felt now more than ever before.

by PopMatters Staff

Our friends over at MOG have a really sweet exclusive running right now. Bob Marley & The Wailers’ last ever concert occurred in Pittsburgh on 23 September 1980 and next week Universal is releasing the deluxe two-CD set documenting the historic show. If you sign up for a free 7-day MOG trial, you can listen to the album in full right now up until release. Of course, Marley performs all the old favorites too: “No Woman No Cry”, “Redemption Song”, “Jammin’, “Get Up Stand Up” and many more.

SONG LIST
01 Greetings
02 Natural Mystic
03 Positive Vibration
04 Burnin’ & Lootin’
05 Them Belly Full
06 The Heathen
07 Running Away
08 Crazy Baldhead
09 War / No More Trouble
10 Zimbabwe
11 Zion Train
12 No Woman No Cry
13 Jamming
14 Exodus
15 Redemption Song
16 Coming in From The Cold
17 Could You Be Loved
18 Is This Love
19 Work
20 Get Up Stand Up

by PopMatters Staff

The Queen of Punk Cabaret has a new album out, Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under, as well as a brand new slick and glammy video for “Map of Tasmania”. You can catch that video below in its final form, but first check out this mini being-the-scenes featurette highlighting the making of the video. Decadent stuff, although one wishes the dude in the video had a bit more apparel on his bod.